About
Employment
I am a lawyer with expertise in Canadian pension and benefits honed by over 20 years in the consulting industry. At Watson Wyatt (now Towers Watson) I was Director of the Canadian Research & Information Centre, responsible for a number of activities including writing and producing company publications.
Upon leaving Watson Wyatt in 2005, I was appointed editor in chief of Employee Benefit News Canada. The print magazine appeared 6x/year and electronic newsletters were published weekly. In addition, we ran web conferences and initiated a highly successful industry conference. I resigned from that position in April 2009, and the publication was sold to Benefits Canada (Rogers Communications) later in the year.
From May 2009-May 2010, I provided consulting service to the Humber College Centre for Employee Benefits in the development of its new Administration of Capital Accumulation Plans program and supporting marketing materials.
In May 2010 I started my own business offering research, writing and editing services to the business community. I incorporated as Sheryl Smolkin & Associates Inc. in June 2011. I currently blog 3x a week on moneyville.ca at Eye on Benefits and I’m a contributing writer for HRCompliance Insider. In addition I have several large corporate clients.
Education:
LLM. (Distinction) in European Management and Employment Law, University of Leicester
LLB. Osgoode Hall of York University
Professional Affiliations:
Pension Commission of Ontario Legal Advisory Committee
Canadian Pension & Benefits Institute, Ontario Council
Chair: 1997/98
Member of National Board: 1997/98
Ontario Bar Association, Pension & Benefits Section
Chair: 2001/2002
Member at large: 2005-2008
International Pension & Employee Benefits Lawyers Association
Journal Editor: 1998-2000
Canada Country Editor: 1998-2005
Conference Committee: 2003 (San Diego); 2005 (Vienna)
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Association of Canadian Pension Management
Employee Benefit News Canada Editorial Advisor
Canadian Tax Foundation
References on Linked-in:
Sheryl is a great researcher and writer who is able to quickly grasp the implications of developments for organizations, individuals and other stakeholders, and write about them in a clear, concise and relateable manner.” April 26, 2011
Karen DeBortoli, Lawyer, Canadian Research & Innovation Centre, Watson Wyatt
reported to Sheryl at Sheryl Smolkin, Lawyer/Writer/Editor
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“Sheryl is a seasoned communicator with a deft touch when it comes to editing content, a talent for staying on the leading edge of ideas and issues in the pensions and employee benefits area and a knack for finding the right questions to get to the heart of a matter.” August 17, 2010
Greg Hurst, Consultant, Greg Hurst & Associates Ltd.
was with another company when working with Sheryl at Sheryl Smolkin, Lawyer/Writer/Editor
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“I had the pleasure of working under Sheryl’s direction at Watson Wyatt. Her caring, supportive and entreprenarial spirit helped me in successfully creating a new service offering within the benefits consulting research group.
Sheryl is great in working with subject matter experts to gather facts/information/opinions on emerging benefits, pensions and HR issues and disseminate through written articles to a technical and non-technical audience. She has strong project management skills.” August 17, 2010
Nicholas Kovacs, ASA, Senior Consultant, Watson Wyatt
reported to Sheryl at Sheryl Smolkin, Lawyer/Writer/Editor
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“I had the pleasure of working with Sheryl on Employee Benefit News Canada. She is a skilled editor and writer with an impressive network of senior level contacts within the pension and benefits industry.
She also played a major role in the successful launch of the Canadian Benefits Summit, an annual conference for pension and benefits professionals. Her efforts in organizing and moderating the conference were key factors in the continued growth of the event.” August 16, 2010
Peter Craig, President, Healthcare Media Partners Inc.
worked with Sheryl at Sheryl Smolkin, Lawyer/Writer/Editor
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“Sheryl is a superb pension and benefits journalist and comunicator. She understands the key issues facing the pension and benefits industry and knows how to distill these concerns into understandable terms. Sheryl is very helpful in identifying practical solutions to complex problems through her ability to lay out the landscape clearly and accurately.” August 13, 2010
Gretchen Van Riesen, V.P. Global Pension and Benefits, CIBC
was with another company when working with Sheryl at Sheryl Smolkin, Lawyer/Writer/Editor
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“Have known Sheryl for many years. She has a strong reputation in developing strategic communications on complex subjects including Total Rewards, Compensation, Pension and Benefit programs.” August 12, 2010
Liz Wright, Toronto Compensation Practice Leader, Watson Wyatt
worked with Sheryl at Sheryl Smolkin, Lawyer/Writer/Editor
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